In India, 6 More Special Touches Every Hotel Should Have

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My post last week about the seven special touches that every hotel should have inspired a number of comments, but none so intriguing as the email I got from reader Janice S. Lintz about her trip to India.

Janice S. Lintz

My post last week about the seven special touches that every hotel should have inspired a number of comments, but none so intriguing as the email I got from reader Janice S. Lintz. Janice has traveled to 88 countries and wrote to share the special touches she experienced recently in India, where she stayed at several Oberoi properties that she booked through Jetsetter.com. "Oberoi has taken special touches to a whole new level," writes Janice. "I have never been so lavished and pampered as I was at Oberoi—including at Aman Resorts for significantly more money. For the record, I am definitely an Aman-junkie, but now Oberoi has my heart."

Here are the unusual touches that Janice enjoyed most:

You get greeted like royalty. "At Vanyavilas in Ranthambore, I was greeted by elephants. At Udaivilas, rose petals were showered on top of me as I entered the hotel. (Someone, apparently, climbs to the roof to shower guests with rose petals as they enter the hotel.)"

They magically know your name. "They must Google image search each guest because when I arrived at Delhi airport, the Oberoi 'handler' greeted me by name as I exited the terminal. As I entered each property, the general manager came out to greet me, and it seemed like every staff member knew my name. I felt like Secretary Clinton. The personal touch was extraordinary."

They magically know your cravings too. "Each property knew everything about me, including my preferences, which became more detailed as the trip progressed. So, if there was an issue such as faulty air conditioning, I was immediately offered spa treatments. (A great massage solves all problems.) They clearly knew the way to my heart: spa treatments and chocolate. Indeed, when they found out that I was a chocolate connoisseur, the chef came out to discuss my chocolate preferences. The next morning, a tray of chocolates was sent to my breakfast table. What a way to start the morning! After eating a few, I asked if they could be packed up and sent to my room for my flight home. They were delivered with a personalized note in a cute sachet with two more amazing gourmet bars of chocolate."

You get your own poolside "amenity tray." "Each Oberoi pool has its own 'amenity tray' with amazing small bottles of Kama Ayurveda sunscreen. Cool water bottles that were replaced each hour also arrived. Jasmine-infused towels to wipe my hands and face were brought. Forgot a book or magazine? Not an issue. The pool attendant had a ready stash to keep you entertained."

Janice S. Lintz

A custom-prepared meal at Oberoi Udaivilas.

They dole out upgrades. "My room was routinely upgraded with the most spectacular views, including at the Agra property, where every room is a 'room with a view.'"

The chef whips up custom-tailored meals. "The Udaivilas property was a bit more spread out than I like as a single woman, and I felt a bit like a lost soul in the dining room by myself. I mentioned this to a hostess and, the next thing I know, the executive chef, Vikhas, comes into the dining room to meet me. When he realizes that I was looking for a molecular, Michelin-star dining experience—similar to Alinea or Eleven Madison Park—combined with street food, he offered to prepare a special lunch on the day I would leave. I had no idea what to expect, but I was blown away by the experience. It was exactly what I wanted and the fact that it was specifically prepared for me and only me is beyond comprehension."